Ignition apparatus for explosion-engines.



llhllTED Sfflailhltl' tiene FRED B.- WILLIAMSpOF MOROE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELKHARTMANUFAC- i TURING COMPANY, OF MONRGE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

l IGNITION APPARATUS FOR EXPLSODLENGENES.

i manna Application filed May 2, 1913.

lie it known that l, Final) l. lYlLLrAMs, a citizen o'lf the United h'tatcs of America, re sillin-,nf :it'\l )1li' e. in the county ot h'lonroe and State ,ot lvlichigan, have invented cer'- tain new and useful Improvements in lgrni tion Apparatus i'or -lilxplosion-Engines, o 't which the following` is a spccilicatnni, reierence heilig had therein to the iccoinpanyine' drawings,

The invention relates to electricY ignition svstelns ot'y that type in which the generator for the current is-niechanically driven from the engine. n l n i lt is the primar)Y ohgect ot the invention to provide means forprodueing.an ellicient spark when lthe speed ol; the engine 1s too low for the eliicent operation ot the gener ator. v

lt a iurtlier object to provide ,means 'for automatically retarding and advancing the spark Corresponding to changes in speed of the engine. v

W ith these objects in view, the invention comprises a magneto or other electric grenerator nnwhanicall).r actuated, together with means 'for driving said generator either synchronously or non-synchronoilsly with the engine.

The invention further comprises means for retardinej and accelerating; the speed'oi the generator relative to` that ot the engin-le in llili'erent portions of the saine cycle when the engine is running' at low speed, andL tor automatically changing to a synchronous nniveinent throughout the cycle when running' at normal speed. I g

Still further, the invention comprises va rions features of construction as hereinafter set forth. t

In the drawings: Figure l is an elevation ot' a magneto `generator showingY in section section on line j1/-g/ Fig. l.

A is the mechanically-actuatedv y,eenen atorHsuch as a magneto, oi any suitable construction, and B 1s the drive shait thereior, receiving' its power 'from the engine (not shown). lt is usual to couplethe ma 1- neto and its drive shalt so as to maintain aconstant speed ratio and fixed timing, hut

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 765,046.

Iwith such constructions the generator does not heeome eilicient until the normal engine speed is attained. Thus, in starting', the current generated not suiiicient to operate the igniters. W ith my improved construetion, l overcome this defect by providing means for accelerating the speed of thegenerator during a portion of its cycle, includ- .ing the time of sparking, anov in compensatin, for this acceleration by the arresting or ret-arding of the generator during1 another portion of the cycle. l further provide automatic governing means, ley which this non-synchronous movement ot the generator is changed into a synchronous nwvelnent when the engine has attained. its normal running speed.

lj'arions `specific constructions may he` eniployed `for accomplishing the movements as alcove set forth, but, as shown, the construcltion is as follows: C and D are jinternieshing gear wheels respectively upon the shaft ot' the magneto A. and the driving; shaft B. The gear wheel .D is sleeved upon the shaft B so as to be iree to revolve thereon, but is connected through the medium of the resilient coupling E to a collar F, fixed upon said shaft. The tension of the springor coupling 'E is such that when the engine is in normaloperation, power uilll he transmitted from the shaft B through said spring to the gear Wheel D, andfron'i the latter through the inter-meshing gear wheel C to the shaft ot' the magneto, thereby producing the synchronous movement. To produce the non-svnchronous movement, a detent is arranged to engage with the wheel D to arrest it from movement during,` a portion of the engine cycle. As shown, thisdetent comprises .a latch lever GA pivotally mounted at l upon a stationary bearing I of the shaft P, while Adie 'free end of said latch lever is adapted Ato engage with a notch or reeess'fl in a iiange K on said wheel. This Hannie K is eammed at a' point adjacent the notch vil as indicated at L, so that When rotating` at normal speed it will throw the latch lever G and prevent it from eiiggargi.;- with the notch. When, howeier, the speed of rctation less than norinal, the lever G, after passing the cani L, will drop into the notch J, engaging the square shoulder M thereofv so as to lock the wheel D from movement.

The ten'iporarlfY arrest of the wheel l) 1s pernntted by reason of the resilient coupling Patented ov, 2, lli-M5,

icc

long as the engine is running y members P for engagin tain point in the cycle, will raise the lever Gr 10 out of engagement with the shoulder M.

This will permit the acceleration of the wheel D under the actuation of the force stored in the spring E, with a result that the speed imparted to the rotor of the magneto 1,5 is sullicient for the eflicient current generation. The mechanism is so timed that the nspark occursduring this period. of acceleration, thereby utilizing the intensified current.

The operation just described will continue as at a speed less than that o its normal operation. As soon, however, as the normal speed is attained, the interval in which the notch J is in registrationwith the latch G is not suflcient for the .25'latter to drop into engagement with the e the wheel D s houlder M and consequently Awill `be vlriven synchronously with the shaft B, i

To render'the action positive andto limit y"30 the acceleration of the wheel D, lost motion interlocking engagement is provided between said wheel and the collar F. This, as shown, consists of a sleeve O, preferably integral with the flange K and having jaw with oppositelyf extending jaw members on the collar F.

Between these jaw-members sufficient clearance is provided for the independent movement of the collar when the wheel D is 40 locked, but upon the release of the latch G,

the lost motion is taken up in the accelerated movement of the wheel D. rlhe inter-engag-v ing jaws prevent the acquired inertia of' the accelerated Wheel from carrying it be- ?5 yond a predetermined point, and in this Way the relation of the synchronous and'non-syn- -chronons movements in the cycle is fixed.

Another feature of my invention is the automatic retarding of the spark when the engine is running at abnormally low speed where the circuit breaker is directly driven from the magneto as indicated at ll, Fig. l. This is accomplished by so timing the mechanism that the sparking occurs daring the period of acceleration. Thus when the engine is running at normal speed, the sparking will occur at an advanced point in the cycle, but when the magneto is arrested by engagement of the-latch G with the shoulder al@ M, the time of sparking will be delayed and.

will not occur until after the release of lthe .latch and during the period of acceleration. lVhe're the circuit breaker is not directly f actuated by the magneto, but is operated by @5 'some other part of the timed mechanism, the

idear/ea desired retarding effect may be obtained by a controller operated by the retarded mechanism. As shown in Figay, D is a gear op'- erating synchronously with the engine, and N is a cam` connected t9 and directly operated by said gear: MG isa. latch member controlled by saidgcamfand K is the flanged wheel, having the recess J therein for engaging the latch (l, S is a shaft coupled to the wheel K and having a crank or eccentric S for operating an igniter push rod S2. W ith this construction the operation of the igniter'push ,rod or circuit breaker is controlled by the flanged wheel K', and consequently when said wheel is arrested by the latch G, the operation of said push rod will be delayed, causing a corresponding delay in the spark.

` `What l claim as my invention is:

l. The combination with a mechanicallyoperated electric generator, of a drive mechanism therefor, comprising co-axially arranged drive and driven members having a lost motion Acoupling therebetween, a resilient member for taking up the lost motion, a notched flange on said driven member, a latch detent for engaging with the notch in said flange to arrest movement thereof during a portion of the cycle, a cam on said drive member for disengaging said latch from said notch, and a. cam on said flange for preventing engagement of said latch when said mechanism is revolving at nor-- 'rieti' engaging the driven member to arrest movement of the same during a portion of the cycle, and a cam on said drive member for releasing said detent at a different point in thecycle.

3. The combination with'a' mechanicallyoperated electric generator, comp-rising alined drive and driven sleeves, a lost motion coupling between said sleeves, a resilient member for normallytaking up the lost motion, a detent for engaging the driven sleeve to arrest movement of the same during a portion-of the cycley, and a cam on said drive sleeve for releasing said detent at a different point in the cycle.

fl. The combination with a mechanicallyoperated electric generator, comprising aV loo iis

nected to said drive and driven members 'f and normally taking up the lost motion, a detent -or engaging the driven member to arrest movement ot the same during a portion ot the cycle, and a cam on the drive member for releasing said detent at a di'tterent point in the cycle.

rl`lie combination with a mechanicallyoperated electric generator, comprising a shaft, drive and driven members respectively fixed and loose upon said shaft and having abutting ends, a lost motion coupling between said ends, a spring having its opposite ends respectively connected to said drive and driven members and normally taking up the lost motion, the driven member being provided with a notch, a detent for engaging said `notch to arrest movement of the driven member during; a portion ot the cycle, and

- a cani on the drive member for releasing said ating means in synchronisin with said generator.

Y; The combination with a mechanicallyoperated electric generator and a. circuit l breaker, of a driving inachanisin for said generator, means operating when said drive mechanism lis running at abnormally low speed for alternately retarding and accelerating the speed of said generator during dit'- t'erent portions of the same cycle, and a connection between said means and the circuit breaker for driving the .latter `in timed relation to said operating means.

l8. The combination with an electric generator, of co-axially arranged drive and driven members having abutting ends, interengaging jaws formed upon said ends allowing a limited relative rotation between the members, a spring connecting said meinbers disposed ciiaxially between thetivo, said spring normally taking u p lost motion, and means for arresting motion oi the driven member at a certain point in the cycle and for releasing the saine at a different point in the cycle.

(J. The conibination with an electric generator, and a shalt from which 'the same driven, uta drive member, a driven member and a bearing engaged with said shaft, a lost motion ,coupling between the drive and driven members, a resilient member for noi mally taking up lost motion between said members, a deleni pirotally mounted -upon the bearing and cvlemied past the drive member to engage tl i driven member and arrestits motion at a certain point of the cycle, and a cam upon the drive member interniediately engaging the detent at a dit ferent,point oit the cycle to release the driven member. i

l0, The combination with an electric generator, oit cti-axially arranged drive and driven members having abutting ends, a loet motion coupling between said ends, a resilient member for normally taking up the lost motion, and ineans'lior arresting the driven member a certain point of its cycle and for releasing it at a ditl'erent point of the saine.

11.',l`l1e combination with a generator,

of a shaft from which the same lis driven, a driven member loose upon said shaft, a drive member fixed upon the shaft, the ends of the two members abutting, a lost motion coupling between said ends, a'coiled spring connectingthe drive and driven members normally taking up lost motion, and means for arresting the driven member at a certain point o't the cycle and for releasing the saine at another point of the cycle.

.ln testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

JAMES l. BARRY, Unwin E. Bowman. 

